Some 7% of children (aged 5 to 14 years) had worked during the 12 months to June 2006, according to a new Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) survey on child employment released today. Typical jobs included delivering leaflets for an employer or cleaning or gardening for other households.

More than half (54%) of the 175,100 children hadworked for an employer, 33% had worked in a family business or farm and 16% had worked for themselves (children may have worked in more than one type of job).

A higher proportion of 10 to 14 year old children worked (11%) than 5 to 9 year old children (just under 2%).

The most common occupation for the 101,000 employed boys in their main job was 'Leaflet or Newspaper Deliverer' during school terms (24%) and 'Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers' during school holidays (26%). While the most common occupation for the 74,100 employed girls in their main job was 'Sales Workers' during both school holidays (17%) and school terms (20%).

The most common main reason that children worked was 'Money for spending' (51%), followed by 'Money for saving' (24%).

Most children worked during both school holidays and school terms (53%), while 17% worked in school holidays only and 31% worked in school terms only.

For the 146,000 children who worked during school terms, the most common times of day usually worked were between 3pm and 5pm on Mondays to Fridays (40%) and between 9am and noon on Saturdays and Sundays (34%). For the 121,400 children who worked during school holidays, the most common times of the day worked were between 9am and noon (50%) and between 3pm and 5pm (48%).

Of children who worked during school terms, 45% usually worked 1 to 2 hours per week in all jobs, 29% worked 3 to 5 hours, 15% worked 6 to 9 hours and 11% worked 10 hours or more. During school holidays, 34% usually worked 1 to 2 hours per week, 25% worked 3 to 5 hours, 16% worked 6 to 9 hours and 25% worked 10 hours or more.

This survey was conducted in response to increased interest in the level and nature of child employment.

Further details can be found in Child Employment, Australia, June 2006 (cat. no. 6211.0).